AC tents at airport for Haj pilgrims

From this year, Saudi Arabia-bound Haj pilgrims will get ‘home-like’ facilities at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport Terminal 1.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has decided to set up special air-conditioned tents for the convenience of passengers waiting for their flights.

Costing Rs 10.5 lakh, the tents would have a capacity to accommodate around 500 people at a time.

To avoid the rush, only those travelling would be allowed in these tents.

Besides, there would be separate enclosures with special facilities for women pilgrims.

“The AAI at Lucknow has adequate number of air conditioners at its disposal and it can raise even bigger tents,” said an official involved in the task of setting up the tents.

These spacious tents would have dedicated space for Namaz.

Checking of passports and visas would also be done in case passengers have not completed formalities at Haj House.

Sources said that union civil aviation minister Ajit Singh would personally be keeping an eye on the Haj flights from his home state of Uttar Pradesh as there are a good number of Muslim voters in his constituency.

Suresh Chandra Hota, director, airport, “Pilgrims have a right to good facilities. The AAI is in touch with the Haj committee and our coordination with them is better than ever.”